Straight bar knitting machines



July 26, 1966 w. BENTLEY ETAL 3,262,286

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Deo. 14, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet l ma#mi 2e,

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STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 14. 1962 5 sheets-sheet 2 July26, 1966 w. BENTLEY ETAL 3,262,286

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 14, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 SWA@5 July 26, 1955 w. BENTLEY ETAL 3,262,286

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 14. 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 July26, 1966 w. BENTLEY ETA.. 3,262,286

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 14, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 @lHl H P76. I5. He. l2.

United States Patent O 3,262,286 STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES WilliamBentley, Oadby, and Raymond Blood, Shepshed, England, assignors toWilliam Cotton Limited Filed Dec. 14, 1962, Ser. No. 244,804 Claimspriority, application Great Britain, Dec. 15, 1961, 44,945 61 11 Claims.(Cl. 66-89) This invention is for improvements in or relating tostraight bar knitting machines, and concerns machine parts (eg. threadcarrier selvedge stops on adjustable racked lead screws for fashioning)which when the machine is running are adjustably displacedintermittently (by intermittent racking of the adjustable lead screws)from a starting position when starting to knit a blank to a nishingposition, and which are required to be returned to their startingposition in a continuous reverse movement (continuous reverse rotationof the adjustable lead screws) when the blank is finished and themachine is stopped.

It is known to provide one of the selvedge stops with a pointer and alsoto provide a linear scale on which an adjustable reset stop with apointer is mounted, both pointers co-operating with the scale, and thearrangement being such that first the reset stop is positioned with its.pointer registering with the selvedge stop pointer when starting toknit a blank, and when the blank is finished, with the selvedge stops inthe finishing position and the machine stopped, to then effect theresetting of the selvedge stops by manually, or automatically by atiming mechanism, starting a motor which is connected by a drivetransmitting mechanism to the adjustable lead screws so that theresetting is under power of the motor, and when the selvedge stoppointer re-registers with the reset pointer at the starting positionthis causes operation of a switch to stop the motor, with the selvedgestops and selvedge stop pointer at the starting posiion ready for repeatoperation for the neXt blank and so on.

In the underwear and outerwear straight bar knitting machines there isboth narrowing and widening of blanks during which inward and outwardadjustments of the selved ge stops take place, this being distinct fromthe usual arrangement in a full fashioned stocking straight bar knittingmachine wherein only narrowing and inward adjustments of the selvedgestops take place.

Our U.S. Patent No. 3,019,626 provides, in an underwear and outerwearstraight bar knitting machine, for the aforesaid motor being ofreversible type and for a 2- way switch to be connected to directionalcontrol means for the motor. The arrangement is such that the 2-wayswitch is operated, by the initial intermittent adjustment of theselvedge stops, one way or the other according to the particulardirection of the initial intermittent adjustment of the selvedge stops,and this controls the motor in such manner that its direction ofoperation must be in reverse to the direction of the initialintermittent adjustment of the selvedge stops, whether this direction beone way or the other.

However in these underwear and outerwear machines it is usual to produceblanks of different shapes e.g. fronts, backs and sleeves of garmentsand, since the starting widths of these different blanks are usuallydifferent, it has been necessary heretofore to preset the reset stop atdifferent positions for different blanks. There are two attendantdisadvantages of this arrangement, (l) that the operator must be reliedupon to effect the different presettings of the reset stop for thedifferent blanks and (2) that time and labour must be undesirablyexpended in mat-ching up the different blanks into garment sets.

An object of the invention is to provide a programme controlled means toavoid the necessity not only for manual presetting of a reset stop atdifferent positions but also to avoid manual matching of differentblanks into garment sets.

The invention provides a straight bar knitting machine having machineparts (e.g. selvedge stops) which when the machine is running areadjustably displaced intermittently (by intermittent racking ofadjustable lead screws) from a starting position when starting a blankto a finishing position when the blank is finished, and control meansfor controlling the machine and re-setting the machine parts such thatthe machine can produce blanks of a set of blanks for a garmentsequentially. Said means conveniently includes a plurality of resetstops pre-set to positions governed by starting widths of the blanks,each of said reset stops having associated switch means any of which isoperable by the intermittent displacement of said -machine parts tocontrol motorized return of the latter to a starting position governedby the associated reset stop, and each of said switch means beingprogrammed to be effective at required sequential times. Convenientlyalso in an underwear and outerwear straight bar knitting machine, themotor is of reversible type and each reset stop has an associatedtwo-way switch which is operated one way or the other by theintermittent displacement of the machine parts so the direction of theoperation of the motor is always reverse to the direction of theintermittent displacement of the machine parts, whichever the latterdirection may be. Each of the reset stops also conveniently hasassociated switch means for control of the speed of the motor andconsequently of the speed of return of the machine parts, and there areswitch means for control of the stopping of the -motor at precise timesand consequently stopping the machine parts at accurate positions.

More specifically a programming control means is employed havinginstructional control points for programming the different blanks andincluding instructional control points for selecting different electricswitch means of the different reset stops to be effective in turn,through a suitable arrangement of electric control switches, electricrelays, electric motor control circuits and electric relay switchestherefor, to reset said machine parts to different start-indicatingpositions of the reset stop.

The foregoing and other features of the invention set out in theappended claims are incorporated in the specific embodiment hereinafterparticularly described in greater detail by way of example withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a general front view of a straight bar knitting machinehaving reset stop means according to the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic enlargement of the reset stop means.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged detail section of switch means associated with areset stop.

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view of said reset stop.

FIGURE 5 is a detail View of part of a control cam for the reset stop.

FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 illustrate rotary cams for control of electricswitches on said reset stop.

FIGURE 9 is a detail front View of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 10 is a circuit diagram of an electric circuit for the machine.

FIGURE 11 is a diagrammatic illustration of a programming controldevice.

FIGURE 12 is a diagram of a programming chart for the machine.

FIGURE 13 is a diagram of a garment set of blanks produced on themachine from the chart.

Referring to FIGURE 1 the machine is substantially as disclosed in ourU.S. Patent No. 3,019,626, to which reference is directed for fulldetails, in the following respects. There is a usual thread carrier bar1 for use in the production of garment blanks in different knittingsections, one usual thread carrier being indicated at 1a and the usualneedles of one knitting section being indicated at 2. A usual frictionbox is shown at 3 on a usual friction bar 4, the latter carrying a usualslurcock 5a slidable on a slur bar 5. The friction bar 4 is alsoconnected to a usual draw bar to be reciprocated thereby, the drawmechanism being indicated generally at 7 and being of a kind adapted tobe adjustable by variable motion transmitting mechanism, indicated at 8and 9, through the intermediary of an operating shaft 10 (see alsoFIGURE 2) and countershaft 11. In addition the operating shaft 10 isconnected by a chain and sprocket means 12 to a usual adjustable leadscrew 13 on which usual selvedge stop boxes 14, 15 are mounted and whichcarry stop bolts 14h, 15b in housings 14a, 15a.

The selvedge `stop 14 carries `a datum pointer 16 cooperating with alinear scale 17, and also co-operating with the linear scale 17 there isa reset stop 18 having a -reset pointer 18a.

The reset st-op 18 is initially located at the starting position of theselvedge stop 14 with the pointers 16, 18a in registry and when themachine is not running between the production lof successive blanks thecountershaft 11 is turned to rotate the operating shaft 10 for returningthe selvedge stops 14, 15 from the positions to which they have beenadjusted in fashioning in usual manner back to their starting positiondetermined by the unaltered position of the reset stop 18.

According to our U.S. Patent No. 3,019,626 the necessity for the usualmanual turning of the usual handle 19 to reset the selvedge stops isavoided by motorising the operation, employing a reversible electricmotor 20 (see also FIGURE l0 hereinafter more fully referred to), andfor starting the motor 20 an electric switch 21 which is shown as ofpress button type but which may be automatically controlled in knownmanner by an electric sequence motor. The switch 21 has in ser-ies withit a control switch 23 operable by the usual power control rod 22through a cone collar 22a to ensure that the motor can be started onlywhen the machine is not running. The motor 20 can drive either through alow speed clutch 24, see FIGURE 2, and chain and sprocket means 25, orthrough a high speed clutch 26 :and chain and sprocket means 27.

FIGURE 2 also indicates usual lead screw racking means 41 and usualindexing wheel 13a for the lead screw.

For controlling operation of the mot-or there is provided a motorstopping re-set switch 37 operable each time that an indexing plunger 39in a support 38 drops in a notch in the indexing wheel 13a, theoperation being adjustable by adjusting screw 40, the switch 37 being inseries with a motor stop preparing re-set switch (35 in FIGURE 10), andthis latter switch 35, a direction control re-set switch (28, FIGURE l0)and :a speed control re-set switch (33, FIGURE 10) being in a groupassociated with the re-set stop 18.

The present invention is characterised by the provision of a pluralityof the re-set stops (each having `a re-set pointer), in this instancethree including the re-set stop 18, and by each of these stops 18, 50,51, FIGURES 1 and 2, having a group of said re-set switches associatedwith it (28, 33, 35, 28b, 33b, 35b, 28e, 33e, 35C in FIG- URE 10).

More speecifically .and with reference to FIGURE 3 in respect of there-set stop 18, the three re-set switches shown at 28, 33, 35 aremounted side by side in a support 52 which as seen in FIGURES 4 and 5 ismounted on the scale 17 in slidably adjustable manner with a fingerscrew 17a for releasably securing it in position, and said re-setpointer 18a being carried by said support 52 and registering with thescale 17.

For operating the re-set switches 28, 33, 35 said support 52 alsocarries an axle 53 on which there are three rotary cams 54, 55, 56whereof the middle cam 55 is in two side by side sections a, 55h. Thesecams as shown in FIGURE 3 are in co-operation respectively with threeswitch arms 28d, 33d, 35d of said re-set switches 28, 33, 35 and thecams are rotatably displaceable by a cam plate 57 which is carried bythe selvedge stop 14 rand has ramp edges such as 57a near opposite ends,as shown in FIGURE 5, which act on a cam follower 58a on a cam followerarm 58 mounted on the cams axle 53, the follower 58 being biassed by aspring 59 against the plate cam 57.

The rotary cams 54, 55, 56 are shown individually in FIGURES 6, 7, 8,cam 54 having an irregular obtuse angled fall 54a for the motordirection switch 2 8, the cam sections 55a, 55h providing a regularobtuse angled fall 55C for the speed control switch 33, and the cam 56having an acute angled fall 56a for the motor stopping switch 35.

The operation yof these re-set switches 28, 33, 35 by the cams 54, 55,56 from the cam plate 57 is substantially as and for the purposedescribed in said U.S. Patent No. 3,019,626 re-set switch 28 beingoperated when selvedge stop 14 carries the datum pointer 16 :away fromthe re-set stop 18 and pointer 18a, in fashioning, thereby to pre-setthe motor for operation in the correct direction (switch 28 operating adirectional control device 28a, FIGURE 10) for eventually returning thedatum pointer to the re-set stop pointer 18a; the re-set switch 33operating after eventual operation of the motor in returning the datumpointer, land towards the end of the movement, to reduce the speed ofthe motor by switching from the high speed clutch to the low speedclutch (switch 33 operating a relay switch 33R, FIGURE 10); and there-set switch 35 operating at the end of the movement to prepare themotor for stopping, the actual stopping being caused by the indexingplunger 39 dropping in the next notch of the indexing wheel 13a, tooperate the indexing switch 37. The arrangement of the electric circuitfor this purpose is substantially the same as in said patent to whichreference is directed for full details and the lower part of which isreproduced almost identically in FIG- URE 10.

The switch and cam arrangement of each other re-set stop 50, 51 issubstantially the same as for the re-set stop 18 particularly described,the only difference being that in order to obtain close association ofthe re-set stops 18 and 50, their cam followers 58a, 60a and arms 58,60, FIGURE 3, respectively are disposed side by side when the two stopsare close together.

It is intended for the re-set stops to be effective in turnautomatically for the purpose of producing garment sets of blanks insequential `succession on the same knitting section.

For this purpose three groups of three reset-switches 28, 33, 35, 28b,33h, 35b and 28C, 33C, 35C, are associated with the three re-set stops18, 50, 51 respectively and are in parallel in the electric circuitFIGURE l0.

The three groups of re-set switches are respectively rendered operativeand inoperative at required times by three electrical relays R1, R2, andR3 with respective groups of three relay switches 281'1 33r1 35r1, 28r2,33r2, 35r2; and 28r3, 3313, 3513.

More specifically and referring 'to the circuit diagram FIGURE 10, thegroups of relay switches are in series with the groups of re-setswitches respectively so that if the relays are operated in turn, thegroups of re-set Switches will be rendered operative in turn. v

Control of the relays is effected by any suitable programming or otherselecting means. Conveniently in the circuit, FIGURE l0, the relay R1and its relay switches are normally operative so that the re-setswitches 28C, 33C, and 35C are normally effective for the associatedre-set stop 51 to be normally operative. This relay R1 is under controlof a two-way electric switch SWA which can cut out .relay R1 andintroduce relay R2 through a second two-way electric switch SWB.Similarly switch SWB can cut out relay R2 and introduce relay R3.

A convenient programming .arrangement employing a chart with punchedholes is represented in FIGURES 11 and l2., the chart being indicated at61 on a racking drum 61a and having co-operating feelers (FIGURES 1l)such as 62, two of which have projections 63, 64 carrying adjustingscrews 65, 66 -co-operating with said switches SWA, SWB respectively.The arrangement is such that with no hole in the char-t, neither switchSWA, SWB is operated; a hole at one position in the chart causesprojection 63 to operate switch SWA; and a hole at another position inthe chart causes projection 64 to operate switch SWB.

In operation of the invention say for producing garment sets for exampleof a front blank FB (FIGURE 13), a back blank BB and two sleeve blanksSLI, SLZ in sequential succession on the same knitting section, a pairof holes H, H1 are provided in -the chart for the first reading by thefeeler projections 63, 64 such that both of the switches SWA, SWB or therelays R2, R3, are operated so that after finishing the second sleeveblank SLZ, the re-set switches 28, 33, 35 of the re-set stop 18 areeffective whereby the datum pointer returns to this re-set stop 18, i.e.to a width setting appropriate for the next blank to be a front blank FBduring which the drum is racked on; next (at the completion of the frontblank FB) the programming control causes, by a single hole H3 in thechart for reading Iby the feeler projections 63, 64 at this stage,operation of switch SW and relay R2 but because there is no second holefor this reading this causes no operation of the switch SWB and ltherelay R3 so that the -re-set switches 28, 33, 3'5 of re-set stop 18 arein-effective and the re-set switches 28b, 33b, 35b of re-set stop 50 areeffective appropriate for the next blank to be a back blank BB; then (atthe completion of the back blank BB during which the drum is racked on)the programming control, no holes being provided in the chart forreading by the feeler projections 63, 64 at this stage, causes nooperation of the switches SWA, SWB and relays RZ, R3 so that the re-setswitches 28a, 33a, 35a of re-set stop 50 are ineffective and the re-setswitches 28C, 33e, 35C of the re-set stop 51 are effective appropriatefor the first sleeve blank SL1; this is repeated no holes being providedin the chart same as before, for 'the second sleeve blank SL2. At thecompletion of the second sleeve blank SLZ, the programming controlreverts to the starting arrangement so that the reset-switches 28, 33,35 of re-set stop 18 are again effective for repeat of the cycle ofoperations.

Conveniently the motorised re-setting of the selvedge stops is coupledwith corresponding motorised re-setting of the variable draw 7 throughthe medium of said operating shaft and variable motion transmittingmechanism 8 and 9, and the racking mechanism 41 may be uncoupled fromthe operating shaft 10 allowing use of the motor 20 to adjust the drawindependently of the lead screw mechanism.

What we claim is:

1. In a straight bar knitting machine for knitting fabric blanks ofdifferent widths, in combination, selvedge stop means movable todetermine the outlines of the knit fabric blanks; a series of resetmeans independently settable to selected positions for limiting themovement of said selvedge stop means in accordance with the differentwidths of the fabric blanks; and program control means for renderingsaid reset means sequentially effective whereby a series of knit fabricblanks of different widths are knitted in accordance with a program.

2. In a straight bar knitting machine, for knitting fabric blanks ofdifferent Widths, in combination, selvedge stop means settable todifferent control positions to determine the voutlines of the knitfabric blanks; drive means for moving said selvedge stop means towardsaid control positions; a series of reset means independently settableto 6 selected positions respectively correlated with said controlpositions, each reset means being connected to `said drive means forstopping the same when said selvedge stop means is the respectivecorrelated control position lso that said selvedge stop means issuccessively positioned in accordance with the different widths of thefabric blanks; and program control means for rendering said reset meanssequentially effective to control said drive means whereby a series ofknit fabric blanks of different widths are knitted in accordance with aprogram.

3. A lstraight bar knitting machine having selvedge stops,intermittently racked adjustable lead screws for adjustably `displacingthe selvedge stops, in either vopposite direction, while the machine isrunning, from a starting position when starting a knitting of a fabricblank to 4a finishing position when finishing the knit fabric blank, aplurality of reset stops preset to starting positions governed bydifferent starting widths of knit fabric blanks, a reversible motor forreturning the selvedge stops in either opposite return direction fromdifferent finishing positions in accordance with different finishingwidths for the Iblanks, switch means associated with each of the resetstops for controlling operation of the motor, and program control meansfor rendering the switch means sequentially effective.

4. A straight bar knitting machine for knitting fabric blanks ofdifferent widths having selvedge stops, intermittently `rackedadjustable lead screws for adjustably displacing the selvedge stops ineither opposite direction while the machine is running, a plurality ofreset stops to be preset to starting positions for different knit fabricblanks, a reversible type motor for returning the selvedge stops ineither opposite returning direction upon completion of each knit fabricblank, each reset stop having an associated two-way lswitch to controlthe direction of operation of the motor and other switch means tocontrol the speed and stopping of the motor, and program control meansfor rendering the two-way switch and the other switch means sequentiallyeffective for the reset stops.

5. A straight bar knitting machine having selvedge stops, intermittentlyracked adjustable llead screws for adjustably displacing the selvedgestops while the machine is running, a first pointer carried by one ofthe selvedge stops, a stationary linear scale for the first pointer, areset stop and second pointer carried by the same and co-operating withthe linear scale and preset with the first and second pointers inregistry, operating mechanism for returning the selvedge stops aftertheir intermittent operation in which the first pointer is carried awayfrom the reset pointer, to their starting position with the first andsecond pointers again in registry, a reversible motor for operating saidoperating mechanism, switch means associated with the reset stop forcontrolling the direction, speed and stopping of the motor, at least oneadditional reset stop with a third pointer and another switch means, andprogra-m control means for rendering the different switch meanseffective sequentially.

6. A straight bar knitting machine having one pair of selvedge stops anda pointer on one of said selvedge stops intermittently adjustable whilethe machine is running, a plurality of reset stops with pointers,operably connected with said pair of selvedge stops, reversible motoroperating mechanism for returning the selvedge stops, a first switchassociated with each reset stop to control the direction of the motor, asecond switch associated with each reset stop to control the speed ofthe motor, a third switch associated with each reset stop to controlstopping of the motor, relay means for controlling the first, second andthird switches in groups thereof, first, and second control switches forcontrolling the relay means, and a program control device for renderingthe first and second control switches sequentially effective.

7. A straight bar knitting machine having one pair of selvedge stops anda pointer intermittently adjusted while the machine is running, indexingmeans for the selvedge stops operably connected with said pair ofselvedge stops, 'a plurality of reset stops, a reversible motor,friction clutch means associated with the motor, a stop switch closed byeach operation oi the indexing means, a group `of switches associatedwith each reset stop and cornprising a rst switch for controlling thedirection of the motor, a second switch associated with said clutchmeans for controlling the motor speed, and a third switch associatedwith said stop switch for controlling the stopping `of the motor, andprogram control means for rendering the groups of switches sequentiallyeffective.

8. A straight bar knitting machine having means-including one pair ofselvedge stops for producing knitted 'blanks of different shapes andsizes, reset mechanisms operably connected with said pair of selvedgestops for predetermining :the shapes and sizes of the blanks, andprogram controlled switch means for rendering the reset mechanismssequentially eective.

9. A straight bar knitting machine having means including one pair ofselvedge stops for producing knitted blanks `of different shapes andsizes, reset mechanisms operably connected with said pair of selvedgestops for predetermining the shapes and sizes of the blanks, switchmeans for controlling the reset mechanisms, and punched chartprogramming means for rendering the switch means effective sequentially.

10. A straight bar knitting machine having means including one pair ofselvedge stops for producing knitted blanks of diterent shapes andsizes, reset mechanisms operably connected with said pair of selvedgestops comprising 4reset stops and associated switch means, operatingmechanism including a reversible motor for returning the selvedge stopsfrom nishing positions fto starting positions, relay means forcontrolling the groups of switch means, control switch means forcontrolling the relay means, and punched chart programming means forrendering the control switch means sequentially effective.

11. A straight bar knitting machine having means including one pair ofselvedge stops for producing knitted blanks of different shapes andsizes, -reset mechanisms operably connected with said pair of selvedgestops for predetermining shapes and sizes of the Iblanks, a motor andoperating mechanism for returning said selvedge stops to differentstarting positions determined by the reset mechanisms for dilerentblanks, program controlled switch means for rendering the resetmechanisms sequentially eiective, and a machine stopping and startingswitch associated with the motor to ensure that the latter can operateonly when the machine is not running.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,874,557 2/1959Bauer 66-89 3,019,626 2/1962 Blood 66-89 3,141,316 7/1964 McCarthy et al66--154 DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner.

RUSSELL C. MADER, Examiner.

W. C. REYNOLDS, Assistant Examiner.

8. A STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE HAVING MEANS INCLUDING ONE PAIR OFSELVEDGE STOPS FOR PRODUCING KNITTED BLANKS OF DIFFERENT SHAPES ANDSIZES, RESET MECHANISMS OPERABLY CONNECTED WITH SAID PAIR OF SELVEDGESTOPS FOR PREDETERMINING THE SHAPES AND SIZES OF THE BLANKS, AND PROGRAMCONTROLLED SWITCH MEANS FOR RENDERING THE RESET MECHANISMS SEQUENTIALLYEFFECTIVE.